Chapter 9
6 weeks, 3 days, 10 hours and 20 minutes, that's how long he'd been seeing Riley Matthews and it had been a wonderful time. To say that Samantha is happy is an understatement because his daughter is over the moon. Samantha had kept her promise to do well in school and stopped acting up until of course it was time for them to attend Zay's wedding. Samantha wanted to bring Riley but the teacher declined. She didn't want to leave her other students. Lucas knew that it was more than that. Riley thinks it was too soon to join him and his family for a vacation.
Once they got back Lucas called to say that Pappy Joe were taking Samantha to see the latest children's 3D flick, it had freed them for this horse ride. It was fun sharing something he loved with Riley, who, despite her disclaimer, was keeping up with him.
Shortly before noon they reached the overlook. Resting the horses, he took the small bag from the saddle and handed it to Riley. Riley took out sandwiches, apples and chips. She bit into an apple. "This view is worth the trip."
"I never tire of it. Pappy Joe brought me here when I was little. I've always thought of it as my place. With all the traveling I did before… " he paused, as if shaking off a bad memory "…I've never had a place I considered my own."
She covered his hand. "Thanks for bringing me here. For sharing."
He leaned over and kissed her gently.
In his arms, Riley felt peaceful. Lucas didn't need to fill the silence with talk; and somehow, despite her quirky ways, he made her feel desirable and perfect.
He moved closer and circled her with his arm. "Are you adventurous when it comes to love?" It was not an idle question.
"I used to think I didn't need that kind of adventure. But now I realize it was the one area where I let my fear control me. Until you." She cradled his face in her hands. "Until you," she whispered, kissing him with all the joy in her liberated heart. All the love. He'd mentioned the word and it felt right. So right.
They spent another half an hour quietly holding each other before they had to get back. Needing to be at home when Samantha returned, Lucas dropped her at her house after an early dinner.
Before taking a shower, Riley checked her messages, surprised to hear one from a college friend who moved in Colorado and now ran a prestigious outdoor leadership training school there.
"Hi, Riley. Guess what? You know how we've talked about getting you up here? I figured out a way to do it. One of my staff is moving to Australia, and you'd be the perfect replacement. You'll still have to apply and everything, but it would mostly just be a formality…."
The message went on, but all Riley could think was: her dream job! The goal she'd been working toward since she'd earned her college degree in education. More money. The opportunity to work with some of the best guides and youth leaders in the country. She should be turning cartwheels, igniting fireworks, calling everyone.
Instead, tears gathered in her eyes. She would be a fool to turn down such an offer. But it would mean leaving Lucas and Samantha.
The choice would be her dream job versus another dream—a life with Lucas.
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Sunday was a mild November day, warm enough to open windows and let a breeze freshen the house. Lucas listened as Samantha started in again about yesterday's movie. "You should've seen it, Dad. It was way cool. These aliens came right at me. I even ducked once, and—"
Lucas stifled a grin. "Maybe we can rent the video when it comes out, but for now, homework's at the top of the list."
"I finished it already. Miss Riley said we should do our homework as soon as we get home so we won't forget to do it and then we can spend time with our family."
"That's good Sammy. Want to show me what you did?" Lucas led his daughter to her bedroom. It turned out that the homework was to draw a picture of an animal. "This is really good princess. This is a nice picture of cat."
"Your silly daddy. That's not a cat. That's a dog."
"Of course it is. Since you're done with homework you can go and play and then we'll have dinner. Just need to do something first."
"Kay, daddy."
Lucas neglected his work since Riley had become part of his priority. Running a successful ranch means working long hours and becoming hands on. He needed to call suppliers and check bank statements. Yet when he sat down at the computer, all he could do was daydream about Riley and the great time he'd had yesterday.
Her infectious enthusiasm for life was a tonic, particularly after his hermitlike existence in the past few years. Yet he still needed to be cautious, for Samantha's sake, if nothing else.
Nothing could be worse for Samantha than for Lucas to get even more serious with Riley and then have the relationship go to pieces. Samantha needed stability, not the fear of disappointment. Although he didn't believe that would happen with Riley, he hadn't thought it would happen with Missy, either. At least not at first.
He'd known her career meant a lot to her—his had meant just as much—but he'd thought that they could still juggle their careers and a child. But fame is the most important thing to Missy. Not Samantha.
Lucas refocused on his work and an hour passed. He rose, checked on Samantha, who still playing with her dolls, and went out on the deck to stretch.
His thoughts turned once again to Riley, suddenly realizing that her sense of focus and drive rivaled Missy's. The idea stunned him. Did Riley also need total freedom to pursue the things she's passionate about? Before, his doubts about their relationship had been based on Samantha and not wanting to hurt her. But this was a more immediate, personal concern. Was he stepping back into the same trap?
What if she, like Missy, wasn't ready to settle down? And another big question—could he give Riley the space and freedom to be the woman with whom he was falling in love and still have her be part of their family the way he wanted her to be?
This whole relationship wasn't nearly as cut and dried as it had seemed. Yesterday had been ideal, but he couldn't commit the rest of his life because of how perfect his days with Riley had been.
Confused and frustrated, he found it nearly impossible to work productively when he returned to his office. No one had ever touched him the way Riley did.
He shook off his demons and finally built up a head of steam on the statements laying on his desk, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door.
Irritated by the intrusion, he shoved back his chair, strode to the door and flung it open.
His stomach imploded when he saw who it was.
Missy.
